Avoosl Wuthoqquan Wrote:
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> The Prose Edda, a medieval collection of Norse
> mythology, written in Iceland, contains a
> fascinating list of dragons. Here is my back
> translation of Marcel Otten’s Dutch translation
> of the Prose Edda (Amsterdam, 2011):
>
> Here are the names of serpents : dragon, Fafnir,
> Mighty Rod, adder, Paletooth , tapeworm, serpent,
> In the Earth, In the Peat, Digging Wolf and
> Greyback, the Loop, Faller-asleep or the Previous
> One.
>
> Wikipedia presents this passage in English
> (translation by Faulkes):
>
> [
en.wikipedia.org]]These are
> names for serpents: dragon, Fafnir, Jormungand,
> adder, Nidhogg, snake, viper, Goin, Moin,
> Grafvitnir, Grabak, Ofnir, Svafnir, masked one.
This is significant in an odd way.
This is made up of all animate entities, actual or existing in myth, that share the outward form of being limbless and moving around in a snakelike fashion.
Now this implies that the mythical creature or this list, which appear to include dragons, were perhaps not thought of as possessing with wings or legs, since that mode of travel would preclude inclusion with the other wrigglers.
This sort of folk taxonomy reminds me of how my wife, of Japanese descent via Hawaii, tells me that the word "nezumi" covers both mice and rats without discrimination. This then is based on external observation of morphology and habits.
Something like using the same word to describe a German Shepherd and a wolf.
--Sawfish
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"The food at the new restaurant is awful, but at least the portions are large."
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